Most fruitful [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martyr Vermil Florentine, professor of divinity,…Most fruitfull [and] learned co[m]mentaries of Doctor Peter Martir Vermil Florentine, professor of deuinitie,…

¹The Synod of Calcedonia, as the same Gregory saith, gave unto the seat of Rome this prerogative, namely unto Leo the first of that name. Howbeit no man used it, because our elders being men most holy, saw it was not meet for any mortal man. Only Christ is the universal head of the church For he is the small grain of mustard seed, which hath increased into abroad and large tree, that it overspreadeth the whole world: and he is that little leaven, wherewith three pecks of meal were leavened. And the stone hewed out without hands, which is become so great a mount that it hath filled all things. Wherefore Christ him self, for as much as he is able to be with us, is to all us the universal head, to whom every one of us cleaveth as members. Moreover Gregory admonisheth Alexandrinus and Antiochenus, that they should receive no Epistles, which had written in them a tittle of so great pride. And he saith, that to receive such a title, is to fall from the faith. Now let our men go, and obtrude this yoke, which by the testimony of their Gregory we can not receive, except we should go back from faith: Namely in attributing that to a man, which we must believe is proper and peculiar unto Christ. Neither doubteth he to affirm, that this John transgressed the decrees of Christ, the rules of the Apostles, and Cannons of the fathers. All these things saith he, hath he violated in the usurpation of this one title. And he addeth, what wilt thou answer unto Christ in the last day of judgement, thou that hast arrogantly taken upon thee his office, and wilt have all his members subject unto thee? He commanded, that we should not call any a father unto us upon earth. But thou commandest men to call thee universal father. In what estimation therefore hast thou the words of the Lord?

¹The Sinode of Calcedonia, as the same Gregory sayth, gaue vnto the seat of Rome this prerogatiue, namely vnto Leo the first of that name. Howbeit no mā vsed it, because our elders being men most holy, saw it was not meete for anye mortal man. Onely Christ is the vniuersal hed of the church For he is the smal grayn of musterdsede, whiche hath incresed into abrode and large tre, that it ouerspreadeth the whole world: and he is that little leauen, wherwith thre peckes of meale wer leauened. And the stone hewed out without handes, whiche is become so great a moūt that it hath filled al thinges. Wherfore Christ him self, for as much as he is able to be with vs, is to al vs the vniuersal hed, to whom euery one of vs cleaueth as membres. Moreouer Gregory admonisheth Alexandrinus and Antiochenus, that they shoulde receaue no Epistles, whiche had written in them a tittle of so great pride. And he sayth, that to receaue such a title, is to fall from the fayth. Now let our men go, and obtrude this yoke, whiche by the testimony of theyr Gregory we can not receaue, except we should go back from faith: Namely in attributing that to a manne, which we must beleue is propre and peculiar vnto Christe. Neither doubteth he to affirme, that this Iohn transgressed the decrees of Christ, the rules of the Apostles, and Cannons of the fathers. All these things sayth he, hath he violated in the vsurpation of this one title. And he addeth, what wilt thou aunswere vnto Christ in the last day of iudgement, thou that hast arrogantly takē vpon thee his office, and wilt haue al his members subiect vnto thee? He commaunded, that we shoulde not call anye a father vnto vs vpon erth. But thou commandest men to cal thee vniuersal father. In what estimation therfore hast thou the wordes of the Lord?